He was supposed to wait the entire hour. He was supposed to be there when she got out--to make sure she did get out. But there was a storm over the forest just a few miles off, and it was headed this way fast. The gathering clouds whipped up the previously dead air into a frenzy and drew a heavy darkness over the field around him.

She'd been out of his sight for over twenty minutes now. "Ava?" He pulled his jacket tighter and hoped she was staying warm.

There was no answer. Lightning struck over the forest, and thunder rumbled loudly seconds later. He checked his watch. If he went to find shelter now, he could easily return in forty minutes or so, and with a much readier hand to help. Ava would never even know he'd left.